Home > Celebrate > 2008
Recovery Rally and Cruise > Highlights
“We have
to make sure elected officials know about the 20 million
Americans who need treatment. Let’s walk, let’s
be proud, let’s continue to advocate for those 20 million
who need treatment.”
Ivette Torres, associate director
of Consumer Affairs, Center of Substance Abuse Treatment
in Washington, D.C.
Water Taxis returned to Liberty
State Park for the 7th annual Friends Rally.
Photography by
John Diaraneo and
Beverly Monsen-Keating
"My fellow delegates want
to try to form an advocacy group to help spread the word
of recovery ."
Rich Stabp, Friends Member
and New Jersey Delegate
New Jersey participants returned
by water taxi to Liberty State Park where a full program was
presented including a keynote given by author David Carr,
whose memoir, “The Night of the Gun,” traces his
addiction to cocaine and his eventual recovery. He said he
was “so
grateful to be outside the prison of addiction.”
Delegates were represented throughout the country and New
Jersey's delegate Rich Stabp said he was
greatly honored to represent recovery for the state. “Being
chosen to represent the recovering community of New Jersey
is the highlight of my life in recovery.” He added that “Meeting
the fellow delegates of the country and sharing stories of
their efforts was inspiring and uplifting and it appears my
fellow delegates want to try to form an advocacy group to help
spread the word of recovery. In an interview with the Star
Ledger, Stabp said, "Most of my life, I grew up with that
message that I was no good," he said. "This just
validated everything that recovery teaches us - that we are
important people and we do change." Read
Star Ledger article
about Rich
As has been the case in
recent years, there was a battle of the banners. This year’s
winners were the borough of Ocean Gate in the town category;
Spring House for Women in the treatment providers category;
and Catholic Charities Partners in Recovery in the general
Category.
The annual Rally for Recovery always walks a
fine line between celebration and lament. There is rejoicing
in the many who have emerged from addiction who have been
returned to their families and communities. But the celebrating
is tempered with an awareness that, in many cases because of
limited treatment availability, thousands are missing, having
never found their way into recovery.
